MRP Stories
Explore Mineral Resources Program science and other USGS minerals related research with interactive story boards and videos!
Stay tuned as we have new content in the works!
Stories
Scroll through interactive stories to learn about minerals related science!
About: USGS marks the spot! The Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program mapping initiative is helping to characterize the seabed and help find critical minerals and other resources.
Geoenvironmental Assessment Method
About: A geoenvironmental assessment method applied to undiscovered uranium in the Texas Coastal Plain.
Illuminating the Night Sky: How Minerals in Fireworks Power Our Lives
About: Fireworks owe their brilliance to minerals from around the world. Learn the origins of these essential minerals and how they play a role in your everyday life.
About: USGS scientists, in partnership with NASA, use new data collected through the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) to study everything from minerals to wildfires.
Life Cycle of Critical Minerals: A Balanced Approach to Meeting Our Nation's Resource Demands
About: Demand for critical minerals is increasing, and it is essential to balance the societal need for these minerals with efforts to understand the effects of mining on other natural resources and to develop techniques to minimize these effects.
Mapping, Mine Wastes and More Critical Minerals Science: | U.S. Geological Survey
About: In 2024, the USGS developed new directions in critical mineral supply chain analysis, innovated new methods for assessing undiscovered mineral resources, and made progress towards characterizing critical minerals in mine wastes.
Videos
Watch the videos below to learn more about Mineral Resources Program science and scientists!
2017 October Evening Public Lecture — Global Trends in Mineral Commodity Supplies
About: The U.S. is increasingly reliant on supply of mineral raw materials from other countries. Advanced technologies are increasingly making use of nearly the entire periodic table of the elements.
Conflict Minerals: An Introduction
About: This video introduces audiences to research that the Florence Bascom Geoscience Center (FBGC) is leading on artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) of minerals and gemstones in conflict zones and during complex emergencies.
About: From the technology we use to the energy that powers our world, minerals are at the core of everything. While we often think of mining minerals from the land, did you know we can also find minerals underwater?
Check out the USGS YouTube page where you'll find videos on all things USGS science and to learn why USGS science matters!